10 Day Vacation

Wow, okay so we just got back this morning from our 10 day vacation and boyyyy am I exhausted!!! I've gone to a total of 8 different countries now in the past two months. Next month, we'll be at number 9 because we're going to Amsterdam! Anyways, for our 10 day vacation we went to Frankfurt, Prague, Vienna and Budapest. It was all super fun and gorgeous everywhere. My favorite, was Prague and Budapest. Anyways, I'll tell about each country and what we did.

FRANKFURT:

We got to frankfurt Saturday morning and had to wait to check into our hostel and luckily when we got there it was around 11 am so we went and got lunch at this yummy Italian place called Vapianos! Its almost like a buffet but not and not as gross. You walk in and they hand you this card and you look at the menu and decide what you want (pizza, pasta, salad, or soup) and you go up to that certain station and they make it fresh for you right there and then you hold up your card to their reader and then you pay after you're all done. So in a way its like a buffet where you can order as much as you want but not a buffet in the way they make it fresh right in front of you! It was so good. I got a fresh small cesar salad and then a calzone. The calzone was HUGE! But so dang good.

Then, afterwards, Annie, McCall, Rebecca and I all walked around their old town and lock bridge to explore more because we didn't wanna go rest right away. I'm so glad we didn't either! We walked into old town and there was some dog show thing going on. There were dogs EVERYWHERE! Annie and I were in heaven (we both love dogs so much). Then, we decided to keep walking around after that and walked across their famous lock bridge and walked all along this flea market thing they had going on. But, really, all it was, was one big garage sale. It was really fun to just people watch and see what they would do. As we were walking back, this guy was selling jewelry he made out of silverware! So, I bought a fork ring! Its so cool. It reminded me of this bracelet Natalie has that she got in africa (her's is made out of a fork too!) Then we came back for the night, had the free dinner they provided and relaxed in our hostel and slept because we were so tired!

Sunday morning we got up and ate breakfast that was also free and then decided that we wanted to climb the lookout tower/church they had there. It was gorgeous and breathtakingly beautiful. We also found this random park to play in and it was so much fun :) Then Annie, McCall and I decided we wanted to go to the zoo there in Frankfurt. I am so glad we did because it did NOT disappoint. Wow was it amazing and HUGE! I loved it. I think that was my favorite day and the is something we spent most of our day doing because it was that big! We spent about 2.5 hours there. They had so many animals: Elephants, Zebras, Camels, Flamingo's, Tigers, Lions, Bears, Monkey's, Bats, Hippo, Rhino, and much much more! Then we went back to our hostel to hang out and wait for the other girls in our group so we could head out for our night bus to Prague!

PRAGUE:

Let me just say: Pictures do not do this place justice. We got there Monday morning and the city is just beautiful! Every building, the cobble stone streets, the colors of the buildings and rooftops. EVERYTHING IS BEAUTIFUL! I love love love Prague! I want to come back. I need to come back! You cannot see everything you want to in just 2.5 days. You can't! We got there and luckily got to get into our room right away! I was happy about that. We then went to explore!

Annie, McCall and I went up towards Prague Castle and there were soldiers EVERYWHERE like hundreds. Maybe even more than that. We found out they were practicing some celebration? I don't really know. But, we finally got into the castle grounds and castle and wow oh wow it is HUGE! Apparently its the biggest one in the world which does not surprise me. It was so pretty! Just walking around the grounds was amazing. We then went into the cathedral on the grounds and that is beautiful! Then, walked into this christmas shop and it made my heart so happy. It was like Buddy the Elf or Santa threw up every where. SO MUCH CHRISTMAS STUFF! After that, we went to the toy museum they had there and that was way awesome! They had a second floor of just all barbies. SO MANY BARBIES! My little kid heart was so happy! I was a huge Barbie fan. We also tried this famous czech pastry called trdlenik's. SO YUMMMMMYY!!!!! Later that night we met up with the cutest girl in the world, Adela! She used to be in the same branch as Ian but moved away! She is one of my very favorite people and has a heart of gold. Goodness she is a sweetheart!

Tuesday we spent all day exploring and wandering around their old town. It was just a good day of finding different things and different views of the city. Maybe we got another Trdlenik maybe not.. okay we did. Well Annie and McCall did and I of course, ate off theirs. We also went to the dancing building. Ate at this yummy resturant and just had a good time hanging out enjoying the beautiful city we were in! I felt like there was so much we needed to see and do but not enough time! I have to come back!

VIENNA:

We got to Vienna around 4:30 and it was already dark out! It's crazy to me that we get daylight savings before everyone in the States. So, we took the metro to our hostel and had to walk a little bit but it was alright! We lucked out and got our hostel all to ourselves! It was a seven bedroom and there's seven of us so.. yeah you get it. Anyways, our hostel was super nice! It was like a hotel! After we got all situated we were starving so we went to eat at this burrito place which was super overpriced and they didn't take cards! I was a little bugged because I hate taking out money here because of all the fees! But you gotta do what you gotta do. So, after we ate dinner we walked back to our hostel and just hung out because we were all pretty tired from our bus ride from Prague.

The next morning we woke up, showered, ate the breakfast in the hostel and headed out to explore the city. We went to this palace there and it was HUGE! It was a "summer home", with 1,441 rooms! Then we went to explore the rest of the city. They didn't really have a old town there but all the buildings were really beautiful and still had the old architecture. We honestly just wandered around going into different cathedrals, buildings, and everything! We really wanted to do a carriage ride but it was 55 euros for 20 minutes. So, we were like uhh, heck no! Way too expensive. So we just kept wandering around. They have a lot of expensive shops and everything so we just looked at all the buildings. Then we walked in this farmers market we had which was cool to see all the colorful fruit and things they had there! That was pretty much our time in Vienna! We were only there one day because we had to take our bus to Budapest!

BUDAPEST:

We arrived in Budapest on Friday afternoon and immediately went to our hostel. Annie, McCall and I walked there because we wanted some fresh air after being on a bus. Budapest was one of my favorite places also! Everything was so pretty. Prague had different things that made it beautiful and unique and different from Budapest that made it my favorite. However, Budapest was my second favorite place though for sure! We got dinner at this pasta bar place which was super yummy! We then walked to see the parliament building at night and oh my goodness! It is BEAUTIFUL! Then we decided to ride on the ferris wheel they had there :) It was beautiful and so fun to see everything at night there! Then we came back to our hostel and ended up having our own room to ourself again!!!

The next day McCall, Annie and I decided to go to this yummmmmyy restaurant the other girls in our group went to last night (they serve breakfast all day there). It was super cheap and SO DELICIOUS. We got pancakes and hot chocolate! The hot chocolate was SO THICK. It was so good but I could not finish it all. It was way too thick for me! But, the whole meal was about $6 so I couldn't complain. Budapest is SUPER cheap. For meals we spent about no more than 6 dollars each time! So amazing! Then, we went to explore more of the city! We went on Castle Hill and it is HUGE. We didn't even see it all. All the fall leaves, and buildings made my heart so happy though. Something I really love about Europe is all the different colors of the buildings everywhere we go. The pastel colors, or the cobble stone streets just have so much character and history, I love it so so much. We also found this huge flea market that was full of souvenirs and homemade trinkets. It was so cute! Then, after that, we went back to rest a little bit and went out for dinner. It was halloween night and we did NOT want to be out in Budapest in the dark during that time... so we bought a box of pizza from this restaurant down the street and played cards and just talked the whole night. I love that I can have a night in like that with Annie and McCall and it be one of the best nights ever. Quality time is the best time. I love Annie and McCall so much and I am so incredibly grateful for them. I don't know how I got so lucky!

The next morning, we went to Heroes Square and just walked around a bit before we had to go to the airport to head back to Vilnius. I am so grateful for the time I have here to travel, see different countries and experience the world. We are very blessed in the United States. I am having the time of my life, and making so many memories that I will never, EVER forget. I love it.

I can't wait for this month when we go to Riga! It will be a blast!

Two Months down?! Halfway done???

Okay I cannot believe how fast time is flying here in Lithuania. We've already been here for two months now and that means we're halfway done??? EXCUSE ME WHAT? Its crazy to me. This last month has flown by. I swear it was just the beginning of September? Then we only have two weeks of teaching left for October because the last week of this month we have our 10 day vacation. Then after that, time will fly even more.

This last month honestly has felt like a blur. I don't even know where to begin.. I guess since I last posted, we went to Poland for our first "official" vacation. That was a lot of fun but also very tiring because the last day was basically traveling all day long. Which is never fun. We spent about, 16 hours total on busses. I ran out of dramamine so I was getting pretty car sick, but luckily I didn't puke like I did on my flight from Seattle to JFK! Phew! 

Some weekends we just stayed in because we were so emotionally and physically tired from the school week. Other weekends we explored around Vilnius! My parents sent me the best package on the earth and I will admit, I was getting very irritable waiting for it to come because it took 3 weeks and I overreacted when it wouldn't come some days, but hey sometimes your emotions get the best of you hahaha! oops, sorry roommates! But I got it and now I have a supply of goodies that I'm rationing to last me until I come home. Lots of GOGO-squeezes, protein bars, nutri grain bars, peanut butter, cheese-its, and other yummy food! I am so so so grateful for my parents. They're the best. 

We had conference weekend this past month! Well, it was just last weekend. For conference weekend, we decided that we didn't want to wait a whole week to hear it, (they just watched it here) so we streamed it live. It was on 7pm and 11 pm our time. Sure we stayed up late but it was SO worth it. I love love loved conference weekend. Its hard to pick a favorite but some of mine were: Uchtdorf, Hales, Monson, Keetch, Nelson, Holland, Oaks and Schwitzer. I felt like conference was exactly what I needed. I have such an overwhelming feeling of joy and desire to be more like my Savior. I'm trying to be better and more like him in every way possible and conference was just the reminder I needed.

Here's one of my favorite quotes from conference: 

Also! Annie, McCall and I have been going to Institute. The actual class with everyone else is at night and we can't make it then. But the senior missionary couple here is so incredibly amazing that they decided to make a class for us and teach us Wednesdays at 11 am! So, we have our own little class with them at their apartment :) They have been so incredibly welcoming and loving. They have made it easier being away from home. They are a wonderful example to me of being selfless and christ like love. I have love love loved institute so far. I am learning so much. We are right now focusing all on Jesus Christ and the everlasting gospel! My testimony is being strengthened and my relationship with my Heavenly Father has been growing. I am so grateful for institute. We love you Elder and Sister Nuttall!! 

Last week it was Annie's birthday and so we had pizza on her actual birthday and then her mom and brother came into town for the weekend! Annie hung out with them and showed them around most all of Vilnius and then Friday and Saturday Annie, McCall and I hung out with them. Saturday we showed them St. Ann's Cathedral and went to Uzupis which is a sovereign state in Vilnius. Its pretty funny. Then, we went to the Salvador Dali and Pablo Picasso Art Exhibit which was really cool to see.

Overall, I love teaching but it is exhausting.. I mean it always will be BUT i've had so many good moments. I give teachers soon much props it is HARD work. I can barely handle the amount of time I teach cause its exhausting! I mean, I love my kids so so so much but I can't imagine teaching as long as real teachers, teach!! I think my favorite group to teach is my level 1 kids and then pre-language. I know I'm probably not supposed to have favorites BUT, I do. Level 1 kids are so so so funny. One of my students farted three different times in class and one of them smelled like she probably should've gone to the bathroom. Her name is Agata and she is the funniest, strangest child I have ever met. My level one kids get really crazy, one day they actually sounded like howling monkeys. I honestly do not know how to describe them because they're so funny, yet so weird.

Heres one of the best moments I have had since being here. One student of mine in level one has been struggling for weeks on his spelling tests and would not even take them. He would break down in tears and just crumple up his paper. Two weeks ago for the first time EVER he got 100%. I wanted to jump up and down for joy, hug him so so tight and just tell him how proud I was of him! Of course, I did all three things. Now, for the past three tests he has gotten 100% !!!!!!! Not only that he would barely speak in class, not ever say my name, wouldn't participate. Now he always asks me for help, says my name, participates and has so much more confidence in himself. It makes my heart sooooo happy.

My pre-language kids are so lovable. They will just come up to me and give me hugs and pat my back. So cute and it warms my heart so much. Their smiles just make your heart so so happy! My level 2 kids are pretty dang funny too. One kid just talks about his goats that his grandma has in her backyard. Anytime we draw something that has to do with a garden or your house, he will draw goats with them. I know without a doubt in my mind that saying goodbye to these kids will break my heart and I will definitely be leaving a little piece of my heart here with them.

I cannot wait for what this next half of the semester will bring. More laughs than anything that's for sure. I got dang lucky because I don't know what I would do without Annie or McCall. The other girls are pretty great here too. However, I hope I don't freeze to death in the next week or so because our apartment is like a frozen tundra because in Vilnius the city controls when they turn on the heat... we don't get to. So, we have no heat in our apartment right now BUT Im so grateful I am here. Little things like this are making me realize how lucky and good we have it in the States. I love Lithuania, the experiences and memories I am making here. I know without a doubt in my mind this is what I needed to be doing in my life. These kids, my life long friendships I'm making, the travel experiences and all the memories I have and will continue to make will impact me in some way. Heres to halfway done!!!